Growing Passions
Passionflowers look so delicate but are so easy to grow, particularly where the temperature is not too cold, though they are pretty hardy!
The plant is a woody climber that needs moisture, particularly in the summer, and lots of light. They do best in south facing positions. They are not that bothered about the soil type, they prefer a moderately fertile soil, but that’s about all. A mulch in the Spring and a top dressing of fertiliser in the early summer is about all they need in terms of feeding.
They can be grown in containers, and these need to be watered more frequently to ensure they never dry out. The soil can be free draining, they don’t particularly like wet feet, but they do prefer an ample water supply.
Although they are hardy, well most of them are, they do best in a sheltered spot, and in good summers, though not all, they produce orange fruits which can be eaten when fully ripe. You have to be careful withering the fruits, they can give you an upset tummy if eaten too young, and they get a bit messy when over ripe. The rest of the plant is quite poisonous. The species you need to grow for edible fruit is Passiflora edulis. This plant is really only growable in a greenhouse or tunnel, being tropical in nature. All the others do produce edible fruit, but they are not so tasty.
Propagation
The collection of seeds for sowing can be messy. You need to allow the fruits to over ripen, and then squash them into a mush, leaving them to ferment, then wash away the pulp through a sieve or something similar to remove all the pulp. The seeds are rinsed in hot water and therefore sown within a few days.
By far the best way to propagate is to buy a plant and layer in the Spring or take Summer cuttings.
Problems
Aphids, red spider mite, cucumber mosaic virus are but some of the problems this plant suffer's from. Regular pruning shortly after flowering is a good idea, keeping the plant open in aspect.
Seedlings also suffer from wilt, and a low humidity is always a good management technique.
Magazine/November, 2016 3